The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-09-14
WARTIME MAKESHIFTS
Some of the Expedients for Sup
plying Natures Wants.
Getting Food and Clothing, During the
War, In Southern States-How Ne
cessity, the Mother of Inven-
ton, Piled Her Wits.

r., II |
cessity, the Mother of Inven-
ton, Piled Her Wits.
One of the most curious features OF |
the late war in the South was the va
rioty Of expedients to which the people
resorted to supply those wants which
became pressing. Not until commune
cation with "the North had been cut
off did the people recognize the fact,
and fully realize it. that the South had
been actually dependent upon the
Northern manufacturer for hundreds
of articles in daily use. Factories were
few, and these in the main made only
the commoner kinds Ut tobacco and
cotton cloths. Every article found in
n store in 1861 was sure to be Of North
ern manufacture, and with that always
higher appreciation of other peoples
handiwork or talents. was held in
higher esteem than any thing
homemade. Each Christmas, in
those days, shoes were given the ne
groes. A common question was "Who
made dem shoes?" 'Dey wasn't
made" would be the reply; ''dey
come outen de store" By the close Of
1861 homemade goods came into use,
mainly from pure necessity. The lat
ter being the mother of invention, it
speedily followed that in North Caro-
lima inventors and clever inventions
became quickly numerous and varied.
Salt, shoes, c!othing and hats were
prime necessities. The demand for
salt was very great, There were two
sorces of supply-the sea and the salt
works in Virginia. But these could
do little toward supplying the demand
at first, though later the output was
larger. A sack of SALT which at frs
sold for two dollars, rose to thirty dol
lars in gold, and even then it was s
privilege to obtain it. Many familie
in the interior made salt from the eartl
in their smokehouses. This earth hat
gathered, in the course of years, mucl
salt from the meats which were smoked
in such houses in those days. 1t wa
dug up and leached in rude ash hop
per, Just as ashes are leached for lye
A brine, with more or less strength
was obtained. This was concentrates
by boiling and then allowed to crystal
lie. It was not the best article in tn
world, but it was undeniably salt
which was the one thing needful. Ih
Government later took charge OF tn
salt works and employed special
trained men in large numbers in tn
manufacture of that necessity. TIL
price was regulated by military rules
and it became more abundant and
far better quality.
For clothing, homespun was tn
only wear. In those days rude spir
ning-wheels and hand-looms of antiqu
pattern were common. Those who ma
relinquished the use of these, or VIII
had used them only in the manufactul
of servants clothing. speedily foun
it necessary to use them themselve
Others were made, with some improve
ments in design, and there was a
eager search for dyeing materia
These were rs o rule vegetable. Il
digo, banks of various kinds. etc
were largely used. The countl
weaver who made good article
brown jeans, with cotton warp al
wool filling" was in great deman
Many of the wealthiest and most cul
ured women made and wore Il
eoarsest of home.spun cloths. For u
derwear rough factory cotton or &C
ton made on the hand looms was. tt
best thing to be obtained.
twas said by very old people tn
time had been turned back thre
quarters of century, and that pc
pie in the main resorted to as prin
tive methods of living and preparil
Clothing, etc., rs were use in the ola
OF the revolution of 1776. Leath
was in great demand, and since 'the
is nothing like leather" it was fou
that it admitted of no substitute
Many farmers had tan-troughs ma
out of large logs or of p]anl
and large enough to hold q doz
hides. In these they rudely tam
with oak bark the skins of their o,
and their neighbors' cattle for upr
leather The sole leather. as a ru
was made at the regular t,.nneri
80 very urgent and constant was t
demand for shoes that frequently t
hides We're not allowed to remain in t
Toughs long enough to become tam
thoroughly, but had to be taken c
and used while partly raw. TIL
We're utilized while of brown or II
Set color, and were not black.
Iempts al polishing such leather WI